These are difficult times for the world of libraries and our many friends therein. Thank heavens the great and the good seem to be galvanising some kind of mass reaction.

Ten days ago Philip Pullman gave an impassioned speech in Oxfordshire where the current plan is to close 20 of the county’s 43 public libraries. I urge you to read his speech in its entirety at http://falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/save-oxfordshire-libraries-speech-philip-pullman or simply google 'Philip Pullman on libraries' to track it down.

Feb 5^th is a planned day of action in support of libraries that you may well have already in your diary, but it doesn’t stop there. Please look out for others.

As Mr Pullman says in closing, ‘Leave the libraries alone. You don’t know the value of what you’re looking after. It is too precious to destroy.’